John Tyler

John Tyler has been general counsel and corporate secretary for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation since 1999 and its first chief ethics officer since 2004. In these roles for the Foundation and its affiliated entities, John combines his ability to understand and develop theory with his capacity to execute on and translate that theory into practice while complying with the law across the Foundation’s program areas, administrative areas, and investments.

John also serves the Foundation as a liaison to national philanthropy and advocates for philanthropy more generally as a scholar and author on various topics ranging from roles of foundations in society, intersections across and among the sectors, and “hybrid/blended/social” businesses.

John has also published, spoken, guest lectured, and otherwise engaged on those and other substantive topics such as reforming U.S. policy regarding high-skilled immigration and improving university technology transfer. Many of John’s more than two dozen academic articles, book chapters, and op-eds - which have been cited more than 400 times - are available here. John also teaches two courses for Columbia University’s Masters in Nonprofit Management (Foundations and Social Purpose Businesses), courses which he also designed for the program. He also teaches the nonprofit law course at the University of Kansas School of Law.

John serves or has served on numerous fiduciary and advisory boards both nationally and in Kansas City, including in leadership positions.